An officer was shot and killed Thursday night in California and the suspected gunman was found dead in a home, police said.

Natalie Corona, 22, was taken to the hospital, where she later died, Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel said.

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The gunman was found dead early Friday morning. Police said it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Thursday near 5th and C streets in downtown Davis. Corona was shot while responding to a three-vehicle crash, police said.

"She passed despite lifesaving efforts that were provided by firefighters who were immediately there -- the fire department is across the street," Pytel said.

The suspect ran from the scene, prompting a manhunt throughout downtown Davis. Multiple law enforcement agencies from the region responded and helped with the search.

Around 10 p.m., police said they had a possible lead on the suspect. At that time, officers had surrounded a home in the area of 5th and E streets that the suspect was barricaded inside.

Just before 1 a.m. Friday, officers entered the home, where they found the suspect dead.

"The case is currently under investigation, and there's an active investigation going on," Pytel said. "At this point, we've turned over the criminal investigation to the Sacramento (County) Sheriff's Department. They told us that they would take the lead, and we're allowing that to happen."

Corona started at the Davis Police Department in 2016 as a part-time employee. She had finished the academy in July and completed the field training just before Christmas.

"I can tell you that I haven't see anyone work harder in a part-time capacity and be more motivated to be a police officer than Natalie," Pytel said.

Corona was out on her own for only several weeks before the shooting. She is survived by her parents.

"I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family," Davis Mayor Brett Lee said, " and express our thanks to the brave men and women who work day in and day out who protect our city."

The last time the Davis Police Department lost an officer was in 1959, Pytel said.

“She was just an absolute star in the department and somebody that pretty much every department member really looked to as a close friend, a sister,” he said.

“I’ve heard her described by our officers (Thursday night) as our daughter and our friend, and just the sister that we all wanted,” he said. “This is just an absolutely devastating loss.”